God’s special laws are called commandments.
God’s Ten Commandments help us to live as God’s children.
When we obey God’s commandments we do not say mean things about others.
When we obey God’s commandments we do believe in and praise God.
In commandments 1, 2, and 3, we learn ways to love God.
The commandment “Keep holy the Lord’s Day” reminds us to join our parish each Saturday evening or Sunday for Mass.
In commandments 4 through 10, we learn ways to love ourselves and others.
Short Answers
Students will have to pick one commandment and show how they can live it out in their own lives.
The Ten Commandments
I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Do not covet your neighbor’s wife.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
2) What is the Great Commandment Jesus taught us?
The Great Commandment Jesus taught us is to love God and others.
Step 1: *Examine your conscience beforehand praying to realize any sins you have committed since
your last confession. This can be done as a group during a Penance Service or by yourself. An
Examination of Conscience is a time to look at our actions so we can identify sins or bad choices that we have made in all areas of our lives—our thoughts and words, what we have done, and what we have failed to do (to paraphrase the Confiteor).
Step 2: In the confessional.
The Priest and You: Do the Sign of the Cross, “In the name of the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.”
Step 3:
You: Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned, this is my first confession.
The next time you go, you say Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned, it has been ____weeks,
months or years since my last confession. (say how long it’s been since your last confession.)
Step 4: You: Share sins.
Step 5: The Priest: usually offers some counsel/advise. Say a few words about what the person just said.
Step 6: The Priest: assign penance. *
Step 7: You: Say the Act of Contrition. (*We will be saying this prayer as a group before students begin going to the priests.)
Step 8: The Priest: (raises his right hand) God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of your son, you have reconciled the world to Yourself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins. Through the ministry of the church, may God grant you pardon and peace. And I absolve you of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (signs a cross of the person in the air) Amen.
Step 9: You: Do the sign of the cross (as the priest does it)
In steps 3, 4, 5, & 6, you are talking to
our Lord through the priest.
Step 10: Go and do your penance.
Sometimes: At the very end of confession the priest says “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good” and
you respond, “His mercy endures forever.”